Camera exposure-indicator.



v c. e. IVES CAMERA EXPOSURE INDICATOR. APPLIUATIOF FILED SEPT. 15,1910.

995,870. Patented June 20,1911.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. IVES, OF NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.

CAMERA EXPOSURE-INDICATOR.

Specification otLetters Patent. Patented June 20, 1911.

Application filed September 15, 1910. Serial No. 582,197.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. Ivns,a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Norwalk, in the county of F airfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented a new and Improved Camera Exposure-Indicator,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to cameras, and has for an object to provide anattachment to the camera whereby an indicator will denote that a filmhas been exposed when the shutter is operated.

For the purpose mentioned, use is made of an indicator for automaticallyindicating an exposure when the shutter lever is operated and aconnection between the indicator and the film winding mechanism of thecamera whereby the indicator is returned to normal position when theexposed film is wound on the winding mechanism.

Although I am aware that variousdevices have been conceived for thepurpose mentioned, the majority of these attachments become inoperativewhen time exposures are made with the camera. Furthermore the intricatemechanism involved in the construction of the mentioned devices makesthem commercially unpractical.

In my device is embodied a simple construction that accomplishes thedesired object and is adaptable for both instantaneous and timeexposures.

The indicating means of my device is an tomatically operative when thefilm is ex.- posed and is returned to normal position when the exposedfilm is wound onto the receiving reel in the usual manner.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, constituting a partof this specification, in which similar characters of reference denotecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is aperspective View of a camera with the front removed and showing mydevice attached thereto, and the indicator in final or exposed position;and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the upper side of the camerawith the cover removed to disclose the underlying structure, theindicator being shown in initial position.

- Referring more particularly to the views, I provide a camera 10'havingthe usual shutter 11, a shutter lever 12 and a film winding mechanism 13of any preferred construction. Pivotally mounted on the camera 10 andadapted to engage the-shutter lever 12 ,is a lever 14 having an arm '15on which is pivotally mounted an indicator 16 and with the lower end ofthe lever 14 provided with a converging contactpoint 14* adaptedto beengaged by the shutter-lever 12. On an arm 17 of the indicator awordsuch as EX- posed or any similar expression is affixed and the arm17 is adaptedto ove into two positions, as will be hereinait-r morefully disclosed. The other end of theindicator 16 terminates in a rack18 in engagement with a pinion 19, securedto the winding mechanism 13. Apawl 20 pivotally mounted on the camera 10 engages the pinion 19 toprevent the indicator 16 from assuming an inoperative position and aspring 21 is seecured to the pawl 20 and the indicator '16 as will beeasily seen in Fig. 2.

Now, assuming that the various operative parts described, are in theinitial position shown in Fig. 2,-when a film is exposed by moving thelever 12, thus operating the shutter 11 in the usual manner, the actionof the shutter lever 12 moves the lever 14 so that the'rack 18 isdisengaged from the pinion 19, and as the spring 21 is secured to theindicator, the same will move upwardly and the word I Exposed will bedisclosed through an opening 22 in a cover 23 secured to the top of thecamera. As the shutter lever 12 .is moved 'to engage the lever 14, thesaid shutter lever engages a converging side of the contact point 14 andmoves "the rack 18 out of engagement with the pinion 19, thus permittingthe arm 17 to spring upwardly, due to the action of the spring 21,andexpose the word Exposed. Now as the lever 12 is moved onwardly pastthe pointof convergence of the sides of the contact point 14, the leverwill engage the other converging side of the contact point and thuscause the rack 13 to re'e'ngage the pinion 19, as will be easilyunderstood by referring to Fig. 2 in the drawings. In this manner theoperator can instantly see whether the film hasbeen exposed or not. Now,assuming that the film has been exposed, as mentioned, to prepare thenext film for proper exposure the winding mechanism 13 is operated towind the exposed film onto a reel of the mechanism,and at the same timedispose a new or' unexposed film in a position for exposure. WVhen themechanism 13 is 0 erated as mentioned, the pinion 19 revo ves andconsequently the rack 18 in engagement with the pinion moves to returnthe indicator 16 to the initial positionshown in Fig. 2 and the pawl 20prevents the pinion from turning backward, thus holding the indicator inoperative position.

As mentioned heretofore, my device is applicable for use in connectionwith both instantaneous and time exposures. From the foregoing descrition it will be readily undcrstood that wlien an instantaneous exposureis made, the action of the shutter lever will operate the arm 17 todisclose the word Exposed and the action of the windin mechanism willreturn the arm 17 to norma position. Now, when a time exposure is madethe first movement of the shutter lever to open the shutter'will operatethe arm 17 to disclose the word Exposed and without regard to the numberof. times the shutter lever is o erated after the first mentionedmovement, t e word Ex osed will remain disclosed until the win ingmechanism is operated to return the arm 17 to its.initial position. Thusit will be seen that when either a time or instantaneous exposure ismade, my indicating device will automatically denote that an exposurehas been made. When an exposure has been made and the film windingmechanism 13 is operated to move a new film into the focal plane of thecamera and return the arm 17 to its initial position. approximately ahalf turn of the winding mechanism will return the arm 17 to the initialposition, but will not bring the new film in the focal plane of thecamera. However, to complete the operation of the winding mechanism amlbring the new film to the desired position, the operator has only toprolong the winding of the mechanism until the number of the new tilm isshown in the film indicating space which is provided on most cameras andthe complete op eration of-the winding mechanism for each exposure willthen be finished.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that an automaticindicator is provided and although for the purpose of describing thedevice, I have shown a particular construction, it will be understoodthat the scope of the iuvcnlionis defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A camera exposure indicator comprising a lever forengagement with the shutter ever of a camera and pivotally mounted onthe camera, a film winding mechanism, and an indicator for engagementwith the film winding mechanism of the camera and pivotall v mounted onthe said lever to indicate an exposure when the shutter lever isoperated.

2. A camera exposure indicator comprising a lever for engagement withthe shutter lever of a camera and pivotally mounted on the camera, afilm winding mechanism, an

indicator pivotally mounted on the said lever to indicate an ex osurewhen the shutter lever is operated, an a rack on the indicator andengaging the film winding mechanism of the camera to return theindicator to normal position when the exposed film is wound on the reelof the film winding mechanism.

3. A camera exposure indicator comprising a lever for engagement withthe shutter lever of a camera and pivotally mounted on the camera, afilm winding mechanism, a'

spring controlled indicator for engagement with the film windingmechanism of the camera and pivotally mounted on the said lever toindicate an exposure when the shutter lever is operated. and a pawlengaging the film winding mechanism to hold the indicator in operativeposition.

4. A camera exposure indicator compris ing a lever for engagement withthe shutter lever of a camera and pivotally mounted on the camera, afilm winding mechanism, a spring controlled indicator pivotally mountedon the said lever to indicate an exposure when the shutter lever isoperated, a rack on the indicator and engaging the film windingmechanism of the camera to return the indicator to normal position whenthe exposed iilm is wound on the reel of the said mechanism. and aspring controlled pawl mounted to engage the film winding mechanism tohold the indicator in operative position.

In a camera a film winding mechanism a shutter controlling lever; andindicating means adapted to indicate that a film is exposed when theshutter lever is operated and adapted to be returned to normal positionwhen the winding mechanism is operated.

, (i. In a camera a film winding mechanism a. shutter controlling lever,an indicator for denoting an exposure. a. connection between theindicator and the shutter lever whereby the indiator is operated todenote the exposure and a connection between the indicator and the saidwinding mechanism whcreb v the indicator is returned to normal positionwhen the exposed film is wound on the said winding mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. G. IVES. 'itnesses JESSIE H. L. JELLIFFE,

IRA O. Gm-zcoar.

Copies 0! this potent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

